Laura Fernández Wins Costa Rica's Presidential Election
Conservative populist Laura Fernández won Costa Rica's presidential election on Sunday, February 2, 2026, securing a first-round victory and eliminating the need for a runoff, according to preliminary and partial results. Fernández, the handpicked successor of outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves, promised to continue the aggressive reorienting of the Central American nation's politics, according to the Associated Press.
The election took place amidst international tensions, as Iran's supreme leader warned of a regional war if the U.S. attacks, following threats from President Trump and a U.S. military buildup in the Middle East, according to NPR.
Meanwhile, in Milan, Italy, the Winter Olympics are set to open this Friday. Some American athletes, including several from Minnesota, have spoken out about the Trump administration's immigration enforcement tactics in the wake of the shooting deaths of two U.S. citizens by federal agents in Minneapolis, according to NPR.
In a separate sports-related development, U.S. sledder Katie Uhlaender was denied her chance to compete at a sixth Winter Games. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled it lacks jurisdiction to intervene in Uhlaender's case, dooming her fight to compete at the Milan Cortina Games, according to NPR. Uhlaender's denial was allegedly due to a Canadian point-rigging scheme.
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